Combination head covering and stole



Oct. 30, 1962 R. c. LEHNHARD 3,060,449

COMBINATION HEAD COVERING AND STOLE Filed Nov. 30, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOIIQ. Rufh C. Leivn hard A TTORNEYS Oct. 30, 1962 R. c. LEHNHARD COMBINATION HEAD COVERING AND STOLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 30, 1959 INVENTOR. Ruth C. Lehnhard ATTORNEY$ United States Patent 3,060,449 COMBINATION HEAD COVERING AND STOLE Ruth C. Lehnhard, Denver, Colo., assignor to The Ruthie Saucy, Inc., Denver, Colo., a corporation of Colorado Filed Nov. 30, 1959, Ser. No. 856,035 3 Claims. (Ql. 2-403) This invention relates to articles of clothing or wearing apparel, and more particularly to versatile, reversible, multi-purpose, combination head coverings and stoles which lend themselves to easy adaptation to the fashions of the season.

It is among the objects of my invention to provide a chic, fashionable article of wearing apparel which combines the functions of, and which may serve as a head covering or a stole; and which is simple and inexpensive to produce. My device is extremely versatile, capable of many variations in appearance, in manner of wearing, and capable of being made from a wide variety of materials. In fact, the variations of appearance for my device, with regard to materials, and apart from the manner in which it is worn, is limited only by the imagination of a fashion designer.

Further, my combination head covering and stole is particularly suited to the fashion conscious women of today since articles according to my invention may be designed and worn for both indoor social gatherings and outdoor activities, casual pastimes and such as spectator sports, for walking, hiking, skiing and street wear, beach wear, and formal wear and the like. What is particularly advantageous of such articles is that the same one may be worn in many difierent manners to present almost unlimited variations in fashionable appearances and for different purposes. For example, one may be worn as an attractive stole, and if the occasion appears to warrant it, by simple manipulation, a smart head-covering can be arranged by the wearer.

Further detailed description with reference to the appended exemplary drawings will point out many other objects and advantages of my invention. In these drawmgs:

FIG. 1 is a plan elevational view of an article according to my invention at one stage of manufacture;

FIG. 2 is the device of FIG. 1 in a completed form;

FIG. 3 shows one manner of wearing an article according to my invention as a head covering;

FIG. 4 is another manner of arranging one of the articles as a head covering;

FIG. 5 is a top view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 6 is still another way of wearing and arranging one of the articles;

FIG. 7 is a rear view of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 8 is depictive of still another arrangement of one of my articles as a head covering.

FIGS. 1 and 2 generally show the elements and parts which are used to construct an article according to my invention. The articles are shown to consist of longitudinal pieces 10, 11, 12 and 13 having semi-arcuate extensions equal in width, but relatively short compared to the extending end portions. By suitable joinder of the said pieces, the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 is obtainable. The number of sections used to form the configuration of FIG. 1 is not meant to be limited to the four pieces 10, 11, 12 and 13 since it is readily apparent that, for economy of materials, the device may be cut from a single piece of material or may be of two portions each being composed of sections, such as a piece equal to portions 10 and 11, or any other arrangement of portions which will accomplish substantially the design shown in FIG. 1. Furthermore, if desired, the articles may be gored.

Further describing FIGS. 1 and 2 in detail, they are "ice illustrative of the same article at different stages of manufacture, and in FIG. 1 there is shown an arrangement of four sections of substantially the same dimensions and of a desired material and are indicated by reference characters 10, 11, 12 and 13 as arranged to form a uni tary relatively elongated article having a generally oval enlargement 14 at substantially the center thereof, with an opening 15 arranged at substantially the center of said oval enlargement.

The selection of material from which to cut the sections 10, 11, 12 and 13 need not be limited to a single type, color, texture, etc. of material, but may be a combination of various materials which will complement or contrast with each other in a fashionable and attractive manner. For instance, referring for the moment to FIG. 6, a plain material 48 and a plaid material 49 of complementary or contrasting tones can be combined. To continue with the description of FIGS. 1 and 2, after selecting the desired material and joining them together to form the configuration of FIG. 1, the article is folded over along its bisecting longitudinal axis and the edges 20 and 21 are joined to form the article of FIG. 2 by sewing or similarly forming the edge 26. By fashion conscious selection of the manner of joining the edges 20 and 21, such as by embroidering, fastening with bows, tubing, eyelets and the like, or simple hidden stitching, a variety of appearances may be achieved.

Further, tassles such as indicated by reference character 22 may be attached to the ends. The loops 24 are an additional means by which fashionable variations in appearance may be achieved and will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5.

The configuration of FIG. 2 is illustrative of the stole like nature of my invention. The arcuate indentation 25 is attractively positionable around the neck of the wearer such that the arcuate or generally U-shaped portion 30 forms a neat and chic collar-like appearance which will life flat and not wrinkle when the portions 31 and 32 are positioned forwardly over the wearers shoulders to drape across the breast. Of course, if desired, a simple and. attractive bow or overlapping positionment near the wearers throat may be arranged. If the sections, such as 10, 11, '12 and 13 are made of different, complementary materials, a stunning appearance is achievable by a twisting of either one or both of the portions 31 or 32 which will result in a collar-like portion 30 being of one color or material, with either or both of the other portions 31 and 32 being of fashionably complementary colors or materials.

The dashed lines 33 are intended to be indicative of featherboning, wire-like inclusions, or some stifiening material. The particular placement of the featherboning or other stiffening material is, again, a matter of discretion and imagination on the part of the designer. The purpose of the stiifening inclusion is to enable the wearer t'o shapingly form a wide variety of brim configurations such as shown for example in FIG. 3, reference character 34, FIG. 4, reference character 35, FIG. 6, reference character 40, FIG. 8, reference character 41. If a soft draping of the material is desired along the brim, the stiffening material will be positioned a short distance from the longitudinal edges as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. If a sharper, clearer brim line is desired, the stiffening material will be substantially along the edges.

Now, generally outlining the proceess of making my articles, it is as follows:

(1) Material or materials of the desired texture, color, etc. are selected and swaths cut therefrom in the form of sections 10, 11, 12 and i3.

(2) The swaths so cut are then joined to form three zones, two of said zones being of a substantially elongated configuration and being disposed at opposite sides of a 3 central zone and the central zone being of generally oval, or double arcuate, configuration and of a 'length substantially less than either of the two end zones.

(3) The assembled swaths or panels forming the unitary configuration of FIG. 1 is folded along substantially its longitudinal bisector.

(4) The edges forming the open side in the folded configuration are joined to form a unitary article of substantial length as compared to width and comprised of three zones or sections. Two of the zones join at respective zone ends with an arched, U-shaped, or generally arcuate central zone of lesser length than the end zones but of substantially the same width. The limitations as to sizing are dependent on the physical characteristics of the user as will be detailed hereafter.

() Decorative embellishments may then be added.

Alternatively, the decorative embellishments may be added at other stages of manufacture such as, for example, embroidery may be accomplished before cutting; tassels, balls and the like may be added during step 1; a zippered pocket or the like (which will be described hereafter) may be added at any step as, for that matter may the decorative embellishments.

Also, the cutting of swaths is not intended to be limited to such as 10, 11, 12 and 13 since a single pattern may be cut; two substantially equal panels of the shape shown in FIG. 2 may be cut; the arcuate or arched section may be cut in segments apart from the end panels; and other arrangement to form the desired finished configuration may be cut. Therefore, step (1) is intended as the cutting step; step (2) as the joining step; steps (3) and (4) as forming steps; and step (5) as a completing step.

The stiffening material may be added in whichever step is considered most convenient to the manufacturer. I prefer to add it in step (1) or 2) after cutting and while joining the swaths.

Of course, it is anticipated that if material of sufiicient body is used, the swath may be single ply in the form of FIG. 2.

In my preferred embodiment the dimensions of the article of FIG. 2 are about 31 to 39 inches in length and about 7 to 9 inches in width or about four times lOng as it is wide. For children, the dimensions would be about 25 inches in length and about 5 to 5 /2 inches in width, Of course, it is anticipated that the width of the arcuate portion could be longer if desired and the actual dimensions again are limited only by the imagination of the designer.

FIG. 3 shows a manner of producing a rich and attractive appearance by making the article of intricately embroidered material, decoratively stitching the edges and across the width of the device as indicated by reference characters 40 and 41, respectively, and by placing sequins, eyelets or the like as indicated by reference character 42. Further, by making the article of two types of material (such as making sections 10 and 11 of plain material and sections 12 and 13 of the decoratively embroidered material), a soft, plain interior surface 45 is achievable to frame and complement the features of the wearers face. Also, the attractive head covering appearance obtainable with the use of my article is clearly shown in FIG. 3 and it is considered one of the advantages of my article that a rich, complementary and free appearance is obtainable rather than the unimaginative, unattractive and nonfashionable folded square scarf or babushka which has formerly been worn by women when they desired a head covering which could rapidly be donned if the situation so demanded.

I wish it understood, of course, that it is not my intenother drawings for that matter, since any material and tion to be limited to the particular decorative effects and materials set forth with reference to FIG. 3, or any of the decorative means, or fashionable combinations thereof, may be used within the concepts of my invention.

In FIG. 3, the grim line is shown in a flattering, offthe-forehead position, while in FIG. 4 there is shown another arrangement which is obtainable by forming the stiffening material with a downwardly sloping indentation 50 and soft upwardly formed arcuate curves 51 on the sides thereof. Also, FIG. 4 shows a care-free arrangement for the ends 53' and 54 which is obtainable by a simple over the shoulder toss of the end 54 across the portion 53 with a loose gather of material 55 attractively positioned across the wearers throat.

FIG. 6 shows another chic and fashionable way of wearing an article according to my invention as a head covering in which the end 49 is twisted and looped over the portion 48 and both portions brought softly around the same side of the neck to loosely drape over the wearers breast. As mentioned before, by using two different types or colors of materials a distinctly fashionable appearance is obtainable. Such is shown in FIG. 6 wherein the portion 49 is indicated as of a plaid material and 48 of a plain or contrasting material. FIG. 6 further illustrates another useful and decorative feature which may be arranged with my device, i.e. a zippered pocket 50 which is shown in the drawings to be of a material contrasting to the plaid. Of course, it is anticipated that other than zippers may be used as closure means of the pockets such as buttons, snaps, eyelets, or the like, and the pocket may be hidden or patch and may be of material different or similar to the portion with which it is associated.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, while describing FIG. 5, closure piece 60 is held in position on the back of the wearers head and in association with such as the loops 24 of FIGS. 1 and 2. The closure piece may be attached by means such as bows, snaps, fur decorated buttons or the like, to complementary fastening means such as the loops.

The shaping of the closure piece 60 is another means of achieving a wide variety of fashionable combinations and appearances and further points up the versatile nature of articles according to my invention. For example, a small piece of fur, perhaps matching one of the wearers coats, may be selected for the closure piece, thereby achieving a complementary head covering for wear with the coat. If a relatively stitf material, or a soft material With stilf backing, is used, a symmetrically fluted appearance will result by proper placement of the fastening means. Actually, shapes such as diamonds, hearts, squares, etc. are within the scope of my invention, being limited only by the artistic whim of the designer. Further, a single article or head covering can be used with any of a plurality of different closure pieces of different shapes, sizes, materials, colors, etc. This further points out the versatility of my combination head covering and stole. Of course, my article of wearing apparel may be used without a closure piece if desired. In its place, other suitable means may be used such as hat pins and the like.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a back and front view, respectively, of still another manner of wearing my device as a head covering in which the ends 65 and 66 are folded to give a bow-like configuration. FIG. 8 also shows, as mentioned before, another attractive bnim arrangement.

As was noted previously, my multi-purpose article of apparel has great attraction for those women who enjoy outdoor activities since an attractive and fashionable appearance is combined with the functional and desirable features of warmth giving protection for the ears, neck and side and upper portion of the head. Also, the protection from the elements afforded by my article does not impair the side vision of the wearer making it particularly attractive to such as skiers.

From the foregoing description and explanation of the appended drawings, it is obvious that the matenials of construction and of decoration are substantially unlimited, the only bounds being ability and the imagination of the seamstress, designer and manufacturer. Therefore, I wish it understood that the specific forms and exemplary description set forth hereinbefore are for the purposes of description only and I do not wish to be limited thereto, but rather by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination head-covering and stole comprising an article having two spaced apart elongated end portions, an intermediate arcuate portion the chord of which is substantially less than the length of an end portion, said arcuate portion inclusive of a length of deformable wirel-ike material substantially adjacent the outer edge thereof which is adapted to be manipulated to fix said outer edge in a plurality of different configurations, the lateral dimension of all the portions being substantially equal, and a plurality of means to releasably secure a closure piece to the article attached at spaced intervals along the inner edge of the arcuate portion.

2. A combination head-covering and stole comprising an article having two spaced apart elongated end portions, an intermediate arcuate portion the chord of which is substantially less than the length of an end portion, and a closure piece adapted to be releasably secured to said arcuate portion, said arcuate portion including deformable means substantially adjacent the outer edge thereof which is adapted to be manipulated to selectively fix and hold said outer edge in a plurality of difierent configurations, a plurality of releasable securing means attached at spaced intervals along the inner edge of said arcuate portion, said releasably securing means being adapted to releasably secure said closure piece to said arcuate portion by interconnection with complementary spaced means attached to said closure piece, said closure piece being of relatively stiff material which is adapted to form a substantially symmetrical fluted appearance when attached to said arcuate portion, and the lateral dimensions of said end portions and said arcuate portion being substantially equal.

3. The combination of claim 2 in which the deformable means is a length of bendable wire-like material capable of being deformed and adapted to maintain various manipulated configurations when so bent.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 733,603 Steinborg July 14, 1903 779,510 Troost Ian. 10, 1905 1,842,138 Aasen Ian. 19, 1932 2,620,478 Fraum Dec. 9, 1952 2,698,942 Neumann Jan. 11, 1955 2,709,261 Kalensky May 31, 1955 2,741,773 Wolfe Apr. 17, 1956 2,903,705 Price Sept. 15, 1959 

